History and
usage

Peyote has been used for over 3000 years by
Native Americans in
Mexico.[1]
Europeans noted use of peyote in Native American religious
ceremonies upon early contact, notably by the
Huichols in Mexico. Other mescaline-containing cacti such as
the San Pedro have a long history of use in South America, from
Peru to Ecuador.

In traditional peyote preparations the top of the cactus is
cut at ground level, leaving the large tap roots to grow new
'Heads'. These 'Heads' are then dried to make disk-shaped
buttons. Buttons are chewed to produce the effects or soaked in
water for an intoxicating drink. However, the taste of the
cactus is bitter, so users will often grind it into a powder and
pour it in capsules to avoid having to taste it. The usual human
dosage is 200–400 milligrams of mescaline sulfate or 178–356
milligrams of mescaline hydrochloride[3].
The average 3 inch button contains about 25 mg mescaline.[4]

Pharmacokinetics

Tolerance builds with repeated usage, lasting for a few
days. Mescaline causes cross-tolerance with LSD and other
psychedelics.

About half the initial dosage is excreted after 6 hours, but
some studies suggest that it is not metabolized at all before
excretion.

Mescaline appears to not be subject to metabolism by
CYP2D6[6]
and between 20 and 50% of mescaline is excreted in the urine
unchanged, and the rest being excreted as the
carboxylic acid form of mescaline, a likely result of
MAO degradation.[7]

Behavioral and non-behavioral effects

The visual distortions produced by mescaline are somewhat
different from those of
LSD. The subjective "visuals" are not true
Hallucinations as they are consistent with actual experience
and typically intensifications of the different stimulus
(objects and sounds), not the appearance of non existent
fanciful objects or actions that the user believes are real.
Prominence of color is distinctive, appearing brilliant and
intense. Placing a strobing light in front of closed eyelids can
produce brilliant visual effects at the peak of the experience.
Recurring visual patterns observed during the mescaline
experience include stripes, checkerboards, angular spikes,
multicolored dots, and very simple
fractals which turn very complex. Aldous Huxley described
these self transforming amorphous shapes as like animated
stained glass illuminated from light coming through the eyelids.
Like
LSD, mescaline induces distortions of form and
kaleidoscopic experiences but which manifest more clearly
with eyes closed and under low lighting conditions; however, all
of these visual descriptions are purely subjective. Research
into the root causes for the patterns associated with mescaline,
LSD and DMT have given rise to mathematical theories that
explain the biological processes that are disrupted by molecules
like mescaline.
[8]

As with LSD,
synesthesia can occur especially with the help of music.[9]
An unusual but unique characteristic of mescaline use is the
"geometricization" of three-dimensional objects. The object can
appear flattened and distorted, similar to the presentation of a
Cubist painting.[10]

Mescaline elicits a pattern of sympathetic arousal, with the
peripheral nervous system being a major target for this
drug.[9]
Effects last for up to 12 hours.[9]

Legality

In the
US it was made illegal in 1970 by the
Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act.[14]
It was prohibited internationally by the 1971
Convention on Psychotropic Substances[15]
and is categorized as a Schedule I hallucinogen by the
CSA. Mescaline is only legal for certain natives (such as
those involved in the
Native American Church). In 1990, the Supreme Court ruled
that the state of Oregon could bar the use of mescaline in
Native American religious ceremonies. The
Religious Freedom Restoration Act in 1993 allowed the use of
peyote in religious ceremony but in 1997, the Supreme Court
ruled that RFRA was unconstitutional when applied against
states. However, a subsequent ruling in 2006 held that RFRA was
constitutional when applied against the federal government.[16]
Thus, the current state of the law is that, while the federal
government may not restrict use of peyote in ceremony,
individual states do have a right to restrict it.[17]
Penalties for manufacture or sale can be as high as five years
in prison and a fine of $15,000, with a penalty of up to one
year and fine of $5000 for possession.

In the UK, mescaline is a Class A drug (in powder form,
although dried cactus can be bought and sold legally, unlike raw
"magic" mushrooms, which are now illegal),[18]
and so carries the following penalties. For possession: up to
seven years in prison or an unlimited fine or both. For dealing:
up to life in prison or an unlimited fine or both.

In Canada, mescaline in raw form is considered an illegal
drug. However, anyone may grow and use peyote, or Lophophora
williamsii, without restriction, as it is specifically
exempt from legislation.[1]